Radiology residents are likelier to use personal digital assistants (PDAs) than are radiology professionals in general, according to the results of a survey on PDA use conducted by AuntMinnie.com in March 2003. According to the survey data, more than three-quarters of radiology residents who participated in the study are making use of PDA technology.
In March, AuntMinnie conducted a Market Snapshot survey of its members to gauge the adoption of PDAs within radiology. The survey found that PDA usage varied sharply by professional category: residents (78%), radiology administrators (66%), radiologists (65%), and technologists (30%).
PDA use also varied significantly by place of employment, with 76% of respondents who worked at a university hospital or managed imaging center saying they used a PDA. Radiology professionals working at independent imaging centers and government (city or federal) facilities reported the lowest level of PDA usage, at 46% and 45%, respectively.
Not surprisingly, among the respondents who used PDAs, over 90% used them for maintaining personal calendars and storing addresses and phone numbers. Some 60% said they used PDAs for clinical purposes such as maintaining a calendar for clinical appointments (60%) and medical reference look-up (51%). Only 22% said they used their PDA for online/networked features, while the same percentage said they used their handheld computer for reading news and e-mail.
Specific software that respondents reported using most included: ePocrates, a clinical drug database; PDR, the Physician’s Desk Reference; PocketRadiologist specialty texts; and CHORUS, a collaborative radiology text.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersApril 15, 2003
Copyright © 2003 AuntMinnie.com
